The Twins have activated starter Ricky Nolasco from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Yohan Pino to Triple-A Rochester to create roster space, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports. Nolasco had been sidelined since July 7 with a flexor pronator strain in his right elbow. He’s slated to oppose Danny Duffy in tonight’s home start against the Royals.

Prior to landing on the disabled list, Nolasco struggled and posted a 5.90 ERA with a 72/28 K/BB ratio over 103 2/3 innings spanning 18 starts. Not exactly the performance the Twins envisioned when they signed him to a four-year, $49 million contract back in November.

Neal notes that Pino could return to the Twins to pitch in one of the two games of August 23’s double-header against the Tigers. Pino struggled in 10 starts for the Twins this season, compiling a 5.37 ERA with a 44/12 K/BB ratio in 55 1/3 innings.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher has reversed course and will continue to pay minor leaguers. Fisher tells Slusser, “I concluded I made a mistake.” He said he is also setting up an assistance fund for furloughed employees.

The A’s decided in late May to stop paying paying minor leaguers as of June 1, which was the earliest date on which any club could do so after an MLB-wide agreement to pay minor leaguers through May 31 expired. In the event, the A’s were the only team to stop paying the $400/week stipends to players before the end of June. Some teams, notable the Royals and Twins, promised to keep the payments up through August 31, which is when the minor league season would’ve ended. The Washington Nationals decided to lop off $100 of the stipends last week but, after a day’s worth of blowback from the media and fans, reversed course themselves.

An @sfchronicle exclusive: A's owner John Fisher reverses course, apologizes: team will pay minor-leaguers; "I concluded I made a mistake," he tells me. He's also setting up an assistance fund for furloughed employees: https://t.co/8HUBkFAaBx)